Vertical file drawer



June 3 flM-L L. LQMBARDINI VERTICAL FILE DRAWER Filed March 24, 1939 Patented June 3, 1941 UNITED srar s anger FFKQ = ApplicationMarch 24, 1939, Serial No. 263,975

In Italy October 20, 1938 9 Claims.

This invention: relates to an improvement in filing drawers. "The present application covers an improvement on the invention covered in my ogpgnding application'247,175 filed December 22, 1 3

A An object of. the present invention is to provide, in; a f filing-drawer, for the-use of spacing elements'which-support side -wings of partitions by means of projections which extend vertically. A further object is to provide an arrangement in which vertical:projections'slide' freely in lateral grooves in 'sldes ofadrawer, to support a spacing device. "Bysuch an arrangement a complete and rational use of: the internal space in the drawer andavery stable support for the partitions, is

provided.

"A number of constructional embodiments of theinvention will now-be described in detail and by zway ofrexample with reference to the annexed drawing, in which:

liigure l is a'side viewgin longitudinal section, of-ablile drawer provided with spacing:b1ocks according to the invention;

Figure-i2 illustrates, on an enlarged scale, a detail: of the structurei illustrated in Figure 1, namely; a: part of'the .guide: bearing the spacing devices and some partitions controlled :by the said spacing devices;

:Figure 31is a' perspective view of the detail illustrated in Figure 2;

:Figureit is a perspective 'view of a device similar to' thataillustrated in: Figures 2 and 3, but in which .thespacing. blocks (preferably of metal sheet) -.enclose the guide upon. which sliding takes place;

Figure 5 is a sectional View of Figure 4;

Figures 6v andi'lillustrate, in side and front elevation respectively, one type of spacing block;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 illustrate in side, front and rear elevation respectively a spacing block equivalent to that of Figures 6 and 7 but provided with means for substituting rolling friction for sliding friction in the displacements of the partition.

Referring to the drawing, in which the same reference numbers apply throughout to the same parts, each spacing device, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and in detail in Figures 6 and 7, comprises a block I of parallelepiped form, that is with a rectangular transverse section. The block I carries a part 2 which projects vertically from and is fixed at its lower end to the block l, Although the vertical projection 2, which supports one of the lateral wings 3 of partitions 4, may be of any appropriate shape, it preferably has substantially the-shape of anupset triangle with rounded angles, "the apexof which is directed downwardly and provided with. two lateral projections 5 and 6 whose total length corresponds to that of the block I so as to cover the latter exactly. The block I and the lower end of the Vertical projection 2, constituting the spacing device, are slidably'arranged in the interior of a guide, which. is conveniently made of metal sheetbent to substantially rectangular form in transverse section to provide walls l, 8,8 and it. In order, however, to allow the vertical projection 2 to project from the'guide, the top wall lof the guide is made somewhat shorter than the corresponding Wall '9 so that there is left an aperture between I and 8, thereby permitting the projection 2 of each spacing 'elementto slide freely along its respective'guide, while at the same time ensuring that the said spacing-devices will be firmly held.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 the spacing elements, instead of sliding within the guide, enclose the said guide which is made, in this case, of a solid block H,- and on which the various spacing elements, suitably shaped, slide in contaot with the surfaces thereof.- In the said embodiment, the vertical projection 2 of the spacing element, made preferably of metal sheet, instead of being connected to and forming part of a block sliding within the guide as in the preceding embodiment, is extended by means of a suitably bent projection, say by stamping, so as to obtain walls I2, l3 and M which form a seating in which the block II constituting the guide is inserted, it being possible to supply means for fixing or supporting the whole conveniently on the sides of the drawer.

With the arrangements indicated above, the lateral wings of the partitions, during the various manipulations of the file drawer in use, are in contact with their respective spacing elements, so that during their different displacements due to their pivotal movements a certain frictional resistance arises which, naturally, it is desirable to reduce to a minimum. For this purpose, according to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8, 9 and 10, the top lateral ends of the vertical projection 2 of the spacing element are suitably fitted with appropriate washers, or sliding rollers, 15 and i6 fixed to the said vertical projection 2 of the spacing element in any convenient manner, for instance by means of a small pin or a rivet l! mounted on its back, the said rivet also acting as a shaft for the rotation of the said washers or sliding rollers l5 and It. Thus, dur- 1. In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of two guides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer, and spacing members sliding freely and engaging said guides, each spacing member including a projecting part against which partitions lean during their movement, and which extends upwardly with respect to said guides.

2. In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of two guides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer, lateral extensions to said partitions projecting over said guides, and spacing members sliding freely and engaging said guides, each spacing member including a projecting part with which the lateral extensions of partitions engage and which extends in a vertical plane from said guides.

3. In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of two hollow guides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer, said guides being internally of rectangular cross section, spacing members: sliding freely and engaging said guides, each spacing member having a body portion slidably fitting within the guide and a projecting part with which partitions engage during their pivotal movement said projecting part extending in a vertical plane from the guide through an aperture therein and being in the general form of an inverted triangle having rounded angles.

4. In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of twoguides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer, lateral extensions to said partitions projecting over said guides, and spacing members sliding freely and engaging said guides, each spacing member having a body portion shaped to slidably fit around said guides, and a projecting part, which extends in a vertical plane from said guide, and with which partitions engage during their movement.

5. In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of two guides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer, lateral extensions to said partitions projecting over said guides, and spacing members sliding freely and engaging said guides, each spacing member being formed in one piece from sheet material to provide both a body portion slidably fitting around said guide and a projecting part which extends in a vertical plane from said guide and with which partitions engage during their movement.

6. In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of two guides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer, said guides being externally of rectangular cross section, spacing members sliding freely and engaging said guides, each spacing member being formed in one piece from sheet material to provide both a body portion slidably fitting around said guide and a projecting part with which partitions engage during their pivotal movement and which extends in a vertical plane from said guide, said projecting part having the general form of an inverted triangle with rounded angles.

7. In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of two guides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer and spacing members slidably engaging said guides, each spacing member including a projecting part which extends upwardly with respect to said guide, and rolling elements, mounted on said projecting part, with which partitions engage during their movement.

8. In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of two guides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer, lateral extensions to said partitions projecting over said guides, and spacing members slidably engaging said guide, each spacing member including a projecting part which extends upwardly in a vertical plane from said guide, and rolling elements, mounted on said projecting part, with which the lateral extensions of the partitions engage. I

9.'In a vertical file drawer having partitions pivotally mounted therein, the combination of two hollow guides, each extending along a side wall of the drawer, lateral extensions to said partitions projecting over said guides, and spacing members slidably engaging said guides, each spacing member having a body portion slidably fitting within said guide, a projecting part which extends upwardly in a vertical plane from said guide, and rolling elements, mounted on said projecting part, with which the'lateral extensions of the partitions engage.

LUIGI LOIVLBARDIN'I. 

